Rembrandt van Rin, The resurection of Lazarus, etching and engraving, circa 1632

The print reproduces a painting of the same subject made by the artist in 1630-1631. The scene shows the moment described in the Gospel when Jesus loudly called to Lazarus causing the dead man, still in swathing bands to emerge from his grave. Jesus is shown from behind with his arm raised so that one cannot see his expression. Instead the artist shows the faces and gestures of Mary and Martha, the sisters, amazed at the miracle. The skilled use of chiaroscuro accentuates the drama of the scene. Rembrandt, etching a complex web of lines with greater or lesser depth, creates a wide range of greys and blacks, and places Lazarus and the people around him fully in the light, and gradually lowers the brightness to achieve a dense darkness. In the engraving the great Flemish painter creates both effective and unusual light effects and depth.